By Ayushi Agarwal |
Updated: December 19, 2025 9:38 p.m. STI
New Delhi (India), December 19 (ANI): As negotiations between India and the European Union on a free trade agreement (FTA) enter a “decisive phase”, Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel has highlighted the growing importance of such pacts with like-minded partners amid global trade uncertainties.
In an interview with ANI on Friday, David van Weel, who is on a three-day visit to India, said the global business environment was becoming increasingly difficult, making closer economic cooperation essential. “FTAs with like-minded partners are more essential than ever,” he said, highlighting disruptions to global trade and the need to diversify supply chains.
“We see a world where trade is becoming increasingly difficult, where countries sometimes do not respect the rules we set, and where we need to diversify our supply chains to become more resilient and self-reliant,” added the Dutch Foreign Minister. He said he hoped that the India-EU FTA negotiations would reach a conclusion soon.
Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, welcoming his Dutch counterpart, hailed the support of key EU members such as the Netherlands in the India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
Jaishankar reaffirmed the deepening cooperation between India and the Netherlands, both bilaterally and in the context of broader engagement between India and the EU, covering sectors such as water, agriculture, technology and semiconductors.
“We count on your support as we move towards what I hope will be a decisive phase in our negotiations with the EU on the free trade agreement,” he said.
Earlier on Monday, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said India-EU FTAs were “reducing differences”.
“We have conducted almost 14 rounds of negotiations so far. Their team was here for the entire week of December and both sides were deeply engaged on multiple issues. We are narrowing the differences,” he said.
“When you get closer, there are a whole series of differences. So now we are narrowing them down. Both sides are virtually engaged on multiple issues,” the secretary added.
During his visit, the Dutch Foreign Minister also met Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, terming the discussions productive in the backdrop of global geopolitical changes.
“There were good discussions. In these times of geopolitical change and unrest across the world, democracies must stick together. India and the Netherlands are passionate about democracy, the rule of law and the right of passage on the high seas, and all these values are under pressure,” he said.
On defense and security cooperation, van Weel said both sides shared concerns about developments in the Indo-Pacific region.
He further announced increased naval engagement between the two countries with the Deputy Chief of the Dutch Navy visiting India in February, as well as a Dutch frigate visiting Kochi in the spring.
“In the area of defense and security, we concluded that we share our concerns about developments in the Indo-Pacific region. The threats are multiple and we have also joined your Indian Ocean-Pacific Initiative. Our Deputy Chief of the Navy will be here in February to discuss with Navy leaders the developments and what should be done. A Dutch frigate will also visit Kochi in the spring of next year to testify about the importance of us showing our presence here also in the region,” said van Weel. added. (ANI)
About The Author
